Swiss watch manufacturer Chopard has recently launched a one-of-a-kind timepiece to support the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy, the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Only Watch.

"We are delighted to support the cause of major scientific research into a disease that affects so many children and adults," said Chopard Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.

"Ever since our first participation in 2005, this longstanding commitment has enabled us to develop unique and daring models stemming from lengthy aesthetic and technical research, endowed with powerful, distinctive features that our collectors have not necessarily expected."

Inspired by nature, especially by the Alps and the imperious strength of the majestic eagle, the new sport-chic Alpine Eagle timepiece collection brings forth the contemporary, refined, and assertive vibes with it.

"The Alpine Eagle collection of sporty-chic timepieces spreads its wings, welcoming for the first time a flyback chronograph in a new 44 mm diameter case. The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono timepiece with integrated bracelet is, like the entire collection, very much inspired by the power of the eagle and the beauty of the Alps," the brand wrote.

Sustainable and ethical

Ran by the Scheufele family since 1963, the company has been trying to introduce more sustainable and ethical approaches to its goods. The Alpine Eagle whole range, inspired by the "St. Moritz integrated-bracelet sports-chic watch created by company Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele in 1980", featuring Lucent Steel A223.

This type of steel contains up to 70 percent of recycled steel, and Chopard is the only watch in the luxury watch industry to utilize it. Chopard develops it further to enhance its anti-allergenic properties and robustness. The watch also comes with a case made of bead-blasted Lucent Steel A223 and a calf leather strap.

"Because it is twice forged, it has a higher Vickers hardness than the ubiquitous 316L steel used by almost everyone else. In the two-tone version of the chronograph, the watch features elements in ethical gold, an expression of the Scheufeles' insistence on the underlying ethics of their Maison," said Wei Koh from Revolution magazine while presenting the best design award to Alpine Eagle XL Chrono.

The sophisticated chronograph movement is powered by Chopard Calibre 03.05 C, produced by the Maison's Artisan Watchmakers and endowed with a precision certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). 

"One of the reasons our chronograph is so easy to read, is that when we designed the movement, we placed the subdials higher — above the horizontal line of the crown — to create more balance on the dial and to allow us to make them much larger," Scheufele said.

The watch's dial is made of Swiss granite from the Graubünden region, aesthetically speckled with blue and green to mimic the Alpine landscape from above. In order to represent the harmony and symmetry of an Alpine Eagle, the chronograph pushers on the right-hand side are subtly integrated on either side of the protective crown guards.

Two counters for hours and minutes dominate the visual impact of the dial. Functional subdials are dynamically contrasted by a swirling pattern that resembles an eagle's iris. 

Since 2013, Chopard has embraced the concept of sustainable luxury, relying on ethically sourced gold. The company asserted its commitment further after becoming a founding member of the Eagle Wings foundation.

The foundation aims to document the impact of climate change in the Alps by equipping a white-tailed eagle with a camera on its back as it soars over the Alps, its natural habitat. The result of the documentation is expected to offer a unique perspective of the effects of global warming on glaciers.